Enjoy this informative blog written by our intern, Nick Cardillo, on searching for the perfect wedding band:
The decision to hire live entertainment for your wedding is one that is incomparable to any other option you might have considered. A wedding or dance band has the ability to bring a whole new element of entertainment and fun to your event that no DJ or iPod playlist can provide. But now, the next step in the process is to find the perfect band for you! Taking advantage of the following tips and tricks will make the path to finding a band for your event seamless and stress free.
Start With Your Venue
A great place to start is with your venue. Wedding planners and event executives at hotels, halls, and other locations often have preferred and time tested entertainment specialists. They will be able to refer you to wedding band agencies or...

During each BVTLive! Showcase, we make time to answer some of your wedding questions. Four experts in the industry offered up some useful answers about current wedding trends. On the panel we have Big Ric from Big Ric Rising, Kurt Titchenell, President of BVTLive!, Gabe Fredricks of Philip Gabriel Photography, and Tim Sudall of Allure Films. Check out some helpful tips below:
Tim: Often times when I meet clients, they do not want to be cliché. They want to do things differently. So Kurt, I am going to start with you: As the band leader of Jellyroll, what are some of the things you see that are unique and different?
Kurt: As far as trends, we are seeing that ‘less is more’ at a wedding. For instance, we are seeing fewer formalities, especially after dinner. There are not as many bouquet tosses, and hardly any garter scenarios. We are even seeing silent...

As band leader for Jellyroll, our band has learned and performed some really fun songs at our weddings. In addition to your first dance song, and parent dance songs, think about the song that you and your fiancé are announced to. This song should be fun, high energy and a favorite of yours.
Here are some songs we played while introducing couples into their wedding reception for the first time as husband and wife:
Classic: “My First, My Last, My Everything” – Barry white “Signed, Sealed Delivered” – Stevie Wonder “More Today Than Yesterday” – Spiral Staircase “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Michael Jackson “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” – Frankie Valli
Rock: “Start Me Up” – Rolling Stones “City of Blinding Light” – U2 “Viva La Vida” - Cold Play “Rock n Roll Part 2” – Gary Glitter Contemporary: “Don’t Stop the Party” – Pitbull “Give Me...

Here are some things to consider when planning the flow of your wedding, if your goal is to maximize the time on the dance floor:
Introductions:
We are seeing bridal party introductions less often, and this is not a bad thing. Think about it, after the cocktail hour, guests enter the ballroom dancing while the venue staff and band leader spends time gathering and lining up the bridal party for their intros into the party. The bride and groom, as well as others being introduced miss at least 15 minutes of their party, if not more.
We suggest the bride and groom enter the ballroom when the doors open, dancing with their guests. When ready, the couple is formally introduced and asked to the center of the dance floor for their first dance. If you really want the bridal party to be introduced, you may consider having them enter as a...